Team Shinde Says Uddhav Thackeray Must Talk To BJP For Any Possible Patch Up

Forty of the 55 Shiv Sena MLAs have joined the rebel camp led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Rebel Shiv Sena MLAs have aligned with the BJP in Maharashtra and if there is any possibility of reconciliation with the parent party, then Sena president Uddhav Thackeray should talk to the party's estranged ally, a spokesperson of the dissident faction said on Thursday.

Deepak Kesarkar, who has been speaking to the media on behalf of the rebel faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, also targeted Sena MP and chief spokesman Sanjay Raut without naming him.

In an oblique reference to Mr Raut, who has been making harsh comments against the rebel MLAs, Mr Kesarkar said Mr Thackeray should keep a “little aside” the people responsible for the revolt in the party.

“We and the BJP have come together. So there is a new family now. If we have to go back to the old family, then we are not alone. The BJP is with us. When he (Thackeray) calls us, he also has to talk to the BJP and bless us,” Mr Kesarkar told reporters.